Not a Stranger, Not an Enemy—Mike Tyson Reveals the Friend Who Destroyed His Fortune

For Mike Tyson, betrayal didn’t come from the outside—it came from within his trusted circle. In a raw and revealing interview, the former heavyweight champion opened up about one of the most painful lessons of his life: how a close friend, not an enemy, played a central role in his financial downfall.

“It wasn’t some scam artist or shady businessman,” Tyson said. “It was someone I called a brother.”

Tyson, who earned over $300 million during his boxing career, shocked the world when he declared bankruptcy in 2003. At the time, many pointed to lavish spending, legal issues, and bad investments. But Tyson now says the root of his collapse wasn’t just poor judgment—it was misplaced trust.

“This guy knew everything about me,” Tyson explained. “He handled my money, he traveled with me, ate with me, sat ringside. And while I thought he was protecting me, he was helping himself.”

While Tyson didn’t reveal the person’s name, he described the betrayal in emotional terms—recalling how money slowly disappeared, how contracts were signed without his knowledge, and how red flags were dismissed because of loyalty. “When you love someone like family, you don’t question them. That’s where I went wrong,” he said.

The financial impact was devastating. Tyson lost houses, luxury cars, and millions in cash. But according to him, it wasn’t the money that hurt the most—it was the emotional damage. “You expect people on the outside to try and take from you. But when it’s someone on the inside… that changes you,” he said.

This betrayal forced Tyson to rethink everything—his relationships, his values, and how he defines strength. He now credits his wife, Lakiha Spicer, and a smaller, tightly controlled support system for helping him rebuild.

“Now, I trust few and watch everything,” Tyson said. “It’s not paranoia—it’s survival.”

Tyson’s life today is a far cry from the chaos of his past. He runs a successful cannabis company, Tyson 2.0, and hosts the hit podcast Hotboxin’ with Mike Tyson, where he often shares stories of trauma, redemption, and resilience. Still, the scars of betrayal linger.

“I don’t hate him,” Tyson admitted. “But I’ll never forget what he took from me—not just the money, but the years of blind trust.”

His story is a warning to anyone who thinks loyalty and proximity equal protection. “Sometimes the people who are closest to you,” Tyson said, “are the ones holding the knife.”

In the end, Tyson’s greatest fight wasn’t in the ring—it was in learning how to forgive, rebuild, and protect what truly matters.